‘A lie': Interview with released Milford teen casts doubt on ICE statements on arrest
ICE had claimed Gomes da Silva was not the target of the arrest, and that ICE agents were after his father, João Paulo Gomes-Pereira.
But Gomes da Silva said in an interview published by NBC News on Wednesday that ICE agents never asked him about his father or his family when he was arrested.
He added that ICE agents knew his name, that he was 18 and that he was heading to school.
'He (the ICE agent) said I was an illegal immigrant and put me in the car. I was in complete shock,' Gomes da Silva said in the interview. 'I didn't cry, I wasn't angry or anything. I didn't understand what was happening, I didn't understand what I did wrong. I was clueless.'
Gomes da Silva made local and national headlines after ICE agents arrested him on May 31. The 18-year-old was driving in a car with members of his volleyball team when ICE agents pulled him over and made the arrest. For six days, he was detained at an ICE field office in Burlington.
On June 5, an immigration judge ordered Gomes da Silva be granted bond, and he was subsequently released from custody.
Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, said during a press conference in Boston on June 2 that ICE agents stopped the car Gomes da Silva was in because it was his father's car.
'We were looking for his father — obviously, he's the father of the year, because he brought his son up here illegally as well," Lyons said June 2.
In addition to new questions about whether the father was the target of the ICE action, the other part of Lyons' statement — that Gomes da Silva was brought to the U.S. illegally — is also in dispute.
Gomes da Silva's attorney, Robin Nice, said on June 5 that the teen had come to the U.S. from Brazil on a visitor visa when he was younger than 7. The visitor visa had turned into a student visa, which had lapsed years ago.
She added that Gomes da Silva has an asylum application pending.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that officials were looking for Gomes-Pereira because he had been identified as a 'known public safety threat' — a statement Gomes da Silva forcefully disputed.
McLaughlin said that local authorities notified ICE that Gomes-Pereira drove at speeds over 100 mph through residential areas, 'endangering Massachusetts residents.'
'First of all, it's completely impossible to drive 100 mph in a residential area,' Gomes da Silva told NBC. 'They could have at least thought a little bit harder to make up a lie.'
Read more: Milford High student released from ICE detention: 'Nobody should be in here'
The 18-year-old also said his father has to stay home out of fear of being arrested but that his lawyers are working to address the situation.
Gomes da Silva told NBC that he was born in Brazil but that he grew up in an American environment. He added that he wants to become an American citizen and stay in the country.
Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino told MassLive on Wednesday that he was upset about Gomes da Silva's arrest, stating it compromises ongoing investigations within the community.
'It harms the migrant community's willingness to come forward and disclose crimes to the police,' he said.
Tusino said he could not comment about whether Milford Police passed on information to federal authorities about Gomes da Silva's father.
'Milford police only assist ice with criminal arrests, not civil detainers and not illegal entry,' Tusino said.
He added that Gomes da Silva was never part of any criminal investigation.
A spokesperson for ICE did not provide comment as to whether they are still seeking to arrest Gomes da Silva's father.
It was a normal day for Gomes da Silva as he returned to Milford High School Tuesday, according to his friend Fiona Lentini — as much as it could be after the teen was detained recently by federal immigration officials for almost a week.
The two spoke for five minutes before classes, chatting about plans to play volleyball soon, Lentini told MassLive Tuesday. A sophomore at the high school, Lentini said her friend seemed happy to be back in school.
'He's good,' she said about Gomes da Silva. 'Same old Marcelo.'
On Tuesday, Gomes da Silva returned to Milford High School to continue the remainder of his junior year, according to Lentini. She said it was nice to see her friend again. What Gomes da Silva is most excited about is to play volleyball again this summer, she said.
'Playing volleyball just brings us all closer since we all connect about our love for the sport,' Lentini said. 'My cousin has a net and in the summer we play there.'
Gomes da Silva also got to see his girlfriend graduate from Milford High School last weekend, according to his cousin, Marcelo Bastos.
Bastos told MassLive Tuesday that Gomes da Silva's mother, father and two younger siblings are also safe, with all five still living in Milford.
'They're pretty much OK,' Bastos said. 'There's no problem.'
Bastos told MassLive that Gomes da Silva's father and mother were not born in America but Gomes da Silva's younger siblings were.
He added that Nice plans to submit paperwork that would allow the mother and father to go outside their house without fear of arrest. He did not know what the paperwork in question was.
Nice did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As the family remains home, Bastos has been trying to help by delivering and leaving food and water at their doorstep. He added that the family's neighbors have also been making deliveries to their house, bringing them food, flowers and money.
'Everybody's doing a little bit,' he said. 'We do good.'
Lentini said that her friend is happy to be back with his family but said it is hard knowing that his parents are still possibly in danger.
'Obviously, it's devastating to have to worry that your family may be torn apart,' she said.
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